Locking device



1% 22, E941. F. l. KEANE 2,239,154

' LOCKING DEVICE Filed Oct. 18 1938 H/s ATTORN Y Patented Apr. 22, 194iUN iTE ii} F I Q .253.

LOCKING DEVICE Frank I. Keane, Detroit, Mich, assignor to General MotorsCorporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware 2 Claims.

My invention relates to locking devices and is particularly adapted forbearings and their mountings.

An object is to provide an improved means for demountably andnon-rotatably securing a hearing or other cylindrical member within aseat. Another object is to provide an inexpensive, simply constructed,and highly eiiicient locking device Which may be easily secured inunit-handling relation with one of a pair of telescoping members, andwhich will easily enter into keyed relation with both of the telescopingmembers.

To these ends, and also to improve generally upon devices of thecharacter indicated, my invention consists in the various mattershereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view showing an antifrictionbearing locked in its seat in accordance with my invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the bearing with thelocking device removed;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of my locking clip; and

Figure 4 is a fragmentary perspective showing of the seat member whichreceives the bearing.

In my locking device, which is particularly adapted for non-rotatablysecuring a bearing within its seat, a locking clip l0, illustrated as around wire which may be easily bent to shape, has an intermediatestraight body portion II that forms a key matingly and slidably receivedin both of the cooperating opposed grooves l2 and I3 respectivelyextending across the outer and the inner cylindrical faces l4 and I6 ofthe telescopingly fitted inner and outer members I8 and 23. The endportions of the clip are laterally bent towards each other intosubstantially parallel arms 22 that overlie and preferably clamp againstthe opposite sides of one of the telescoping members to secure the clipin unit-handling relation with this member, and to effectively preventthe clip from sliding out of the locked position within the opposedgrooves I2 and I3 while the telescoping members [8 and 2B are ininterfitted relation.

In the present embodiment, the inner member I8 is shown as the outerrace ring of an antifriction bearing which is provided with the innerrace 2 ring 24 and with the usual bearing balls 25 mounted in theseparator 26. The outer member 26 is shown as a sleeve which may bemounted in any suitable manner in a housing or other support. Alubricant is maintained in the bearing by the shields 28 that close theends of the bearing. These shields may be of any suitable construction,such, for example, as disclosed in the United States Patent Number1,917,988, issued to Large on July 11,1933. The arms 22, which arepreferably in clamped engagement with the opposite sides 2'3 of the racering I8, have their outer ends 29 bent-over towards each other to liewithin the race ring l8 and against the shields 28 to ald in securingthe clip in position and to conveniently locate these clip ends out ofobstructing positions.

The clip I 0 is initially bent with the depending arms 22 spacedsuificiently to permit the clip to be located in its seated positionafter which the ends 29 and the arms 22 are further bent towards eachother and within the race ring I8 to lock the clip in unit-handlingrelation with this race ring. I preferably make the wire clip ID of asufficiently soft material so that this clip will shear and permit theouter race ring I8 to turn in the seat member 20 if the race rings l8and 24 should become locked against relative rotation due to overheatingof the bearing or other causes. This shearing of the clip I0 usuallywill prevent breakage of the bearing or other parts which it maysupport.

I claim:

1. In a bearing or the like, a race-ring having a groove extendingacross its seat engaging surface, and a projecting key received in saidgroove and having its end portions bent to extend upon opposite sides ofsaid ring; substantially as described.

2. In a bearing or the like, a race-ring having a groove extendingacross its seat engaging surface, and a projecting key received in saidgroove and having its end portions bent around the opposite edges ofsaid ring, to become unit-handling therewith; substantially asdescribed.

FRANK I. KEANE.

